...Ferling’s most recent publication, Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation, he proves once more why he is a leading historian in the American Revolutionary Period. The retired history professor from The University of West Georgia has gone through extensive research, proven by 50-pages of endnotes documented at the end of the book, to compose an easy-to-read non-fiction about the impact Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton during the early days of our country. Ferling has organized his book to take the reader through the lives of these two powerhouses from early childhood to death. Beginning with a 3-page chronology, he gives a timeline the reader can refer to throughout the book. He carries this chronological approach throughout the book in four sections, describing their “unhappy youths” to their trials in shaping the newly born America and “tragic ends”....
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...Alexander Hamilton’s Electoral College and the Modern Election Colin Campbell Prof. R Hurl TA: Matthew Lesch Tutorial: Thursday, 4:00 PM, UC 67) U. S. Government and Politics (POL 208 Y1Y) 1 November 2012 Alexander Hamilton’s Electoral College and the Modern Election When American's leaders assembled in Philadelphia in 1787, they originally had the goal of solving issues that had arisen from the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the young nation since separating from Britain. Instead, they drafted a completely new document that established a more permanent and effective central government. With it, they established the office of President of the United States. Rather than being directly elected by the people or selected by the legislature – as described by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers – the head of state was to be elected by an independent institution that existed solely for the purpose of finding a man who was up to the job: a group that would become known as the Electoral College. However, as the political nature of the country evolved in an unanticipated and partisan way, the independence of this body became increasingly irrelevant, resulting in a system which fails to meet the standards of a true modern democracy. Although the Electoral College system has never substantially been reformed, it is now a mere formality which leads to the types of campaigns which it was designed to prevent. In The Federalist, Number 68, Hamilton argues...
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...Civility in politic A Case for Civility Abstract Henry Howard is the deputy director of magazine operations for The American Legion magazine. His article “ A Case for Civility,” in the February 2013 American Legion magazine, Mr. Howard states that the American political culture has become “reek with incivility.” He uses various examples of officials like former senator Richard Lugar, former president Ronald Regan, former Speaker of the House, former senator Tip O’Neil and former senator Gabrielle Gifford, as an example of cooperative forces. Mr. Howard continues that many opportunities were taken to handle the nation’s various programs and legislation in an effectively cooperative way, and the collective tragedy of when issues are out control. Mr. Howard states that with the Internet, advertising, and news media, dirty laundry grabs the public’s attention and creates a segmented society. This creates an ineffective and difficult transfer of power in our political system. To reinforce his argument, the author uses a compilation of George Washington’s views from “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation,” which is 110 observations made by the first American president. These observations point to operating daily with more candor and contain confrontation. In Henry Howard’s article in American Legion magazine, “A Case for Civility,” has a caption that says, “Today’s partisan rancor is nothing new. However, it is getting...
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...This was not always the case in history. Before political parties existed, George Washington warned against the phenomenon and stated that, “[political parties] are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people." (George Washington's Farewell Address). The existence of parties may be seen by George Washington as an “ideology”: “discourse that always misrepresents concrete conditions and specific causes, trading concrete realities for murky explanations” (Nealon and Giroux 94). Political parties are known for playing identity politics and being purveyors of this “ideology” and perhaps these “murky explanations” may be what they are using to cover up the bigger social and political...
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...APUSH Study Guide 8 A weak Confederacy and the Constitution, 1776-1790 Themes/Constructs: The federal Constitution represented a moderately conservative reaction against the democratilizing effects of the Revolution and the Articles of Confederation. The American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but it produced political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican...
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...CHAPTER 5 The American Revolution, 1763-1783 Chapter Study Outline I. The crisis begins A. Pre-1763 consolidation of imperial authority B. Emerging split over British-colonial relations 1. British perspective a. Subordinate position of colonies b. Obligation of colonies to share in cost of empire c. "Virtual representation" 2. American perspective a. Equality of colonies and mother country b. No taxation without representation C. Initial skirmishes 1. Writs of assistance against smuggling 2. Proclamation of 1763 3. Sugar Act 4. Revenue Act 5. Currency Act D. Stamp Act crisis 1. Provisions of Stamp Act 2. Indignation in colonies 3. Taxation and representation; increasing opposition a. Virginia resolutions b. Stamp Act Congress c. Boycott of British goods d. Public demonstrations e. Committees of Correspondence f. Sons of Liberty g. Crowd actions 4. Breadth of opposition a. Colonial elites b. Middling ranks c. Laboring classes 5. Repeal of Stamp Act; passage of Declaratory Act E. Internal colonial disputes 1. Tenant uprising in Hudson Valley 2. Tenant uprising in Green Mountains 3. Regulators in South Carolina 4. Regulators in North Carolina II. The road to revolution A. Townshend crisis 1. Provisions of Townshend duties 2. Colonial response, home-spun virtue a. Revival of boycott on British goods b. American-made goods as symbol of resistance c. Reawakening of popular protest B. Boston Massacre 1. Stationing of troops in Boston 2...
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...It would be shameful for a judge to be retired at the age of 65 which is the prime of their lives. A life tenured judge serves as an extremely imperative purpose which is guarding judges from the partisan pressure that comes with sporadic culpability to a constituency. Federal judges do not have to be concerned with raising funds for election campaigns however, state judges do. Being a conscientious Supreme Court Judge is challenging under the greatest of conditions, and life time judges are not wholly insusceptible from partisan pressure. Because judges continue to be affiliated within their respective communities, they remain subject to all kinds of associated societal pressures. Supreme Court Judges do not have to be concerned about currying political courtesy so they have a fighting chance to deliver one of the magistrates most important roles. (Lazarus,...
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...Stephen Decatur American naval officer notable for his heroism in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812; first American celebrated as a nation military hero who had not fought in the American Revolution. Tariff of 1816 Protective tariff enforced between 1816-1824; formed the basis of the Compromise of 1833, ending the Nullification Crisis in which South Carolina had threatened secession from the US; Introduced by Secretary of Treasury Alexander J. Dallas and advocated by Speaker of the House Henry Clay; Daniel Webster and John Randolph strongly opposed. The American System aka American Way; mercantilist economic plan based on the "American School" ideas of Alexander Hamilton consisting of a high tariff to support internal improvement; plan was advanced by the Whig Party, more specifically Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and John Quincy Adams. Era of Good Feelings 1816-1824; Period in the US political history in which partisan bitterness abated; took place during James Monroe's presidency. Panic of 1819 First major financial crisis in the US that occurred during the end of the Era of Good Feelings; resulted from international conflicts such as the Embargo Act and War of 1812. Missouri...
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...not protect them if they were to be tried by a ‘belligerent nation’. This statement of policy triggered a fierce criticism from those who considered the Proclamation a dishonorable betrayal of the oldest and dearest ally of the American Revolution. The Proclamation was also important for the constitutional precedent it established for executive authority in the realm of foreign policy, as well as for exciting partisan passions that were formative to the creation of political parties in the first party system. Congressman James Madison and Secretary of State Alexander Hamilton under the pen names of Helivicus and Pacificus provided each side of the growing partisan divide between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans with powerful talking points. Congress in 1794 passed the Neutrality Act, which gave President Washington’s policy the force of law. The Act marked an acknowledgment by the legislative branch that foreign policy resided largely in the constitutional domain of the executive branch. With the legal and constitutional questions settled, the partisan contentions over the French Revolution and foreign policy channeled into other issues, such as the even more bitter debate over Jay’s Treaty. Formally titled the "Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America," but more popularly known as the Jay Treaty, this document was officially ratified by President George Washington in August 1795. Debates about...
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...Evaluate the claim that the U.S Supreme Court is an Imperial Judiciary The Founding Fathers established the Federal Supreme Court in Article III of the Constitution as the ultimate judicial power, claiming “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court”. Despite being put into power in 1789, The debate still exists as to how powerful the Supreme Court truly is, some say it is an imperial power with too much influence over U.S Politics, whilst others argue against this claim stating the Supreme Court is imperilled in many respects. The two main claims that the Supreme Court is still powerful lies in their power of Judicial Review and the fact they have a security of tenure, meaning they cannot be fired and are not subject to elections like other government officials, meaning they can act as they wish and with great freedom. Justices are not completely free to exercise power as they wish, they are of course bound by the constitution (subject to interpretation) and have a responsibility to interpret it correctly. Furthermore, they can be subject to impeachment by the Senate if they act in a manner not fitting that of the highest lawmakers in the land. The United States government is made up of 3 supposedly co-equal branches of Government, a system of checks and balances designed to make the perfect democratic system. However, with the surge of partisanship on the hill coupled with a progressive Executive branch addressing some of Americas most...
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...The American Lion ! Strong-willed and sharp-tempered, a fierce patriot and rabid partisan, Andrew Jackson was always controversial both as a general and as President. He personalized disputes and demonized opponents. He was the defender of the Union, the conqueror of nullification, the hero of democracy. Andrew Jackson was President of the United States during a crucial period of decision making that not only affected Americans, but particularly the economy involving the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson opposed all banks, believing that they only made the rich more wealthy and corrupted government. Although Jackson’s main concern was to give lower social classes the same opportunities that the wealthy Bank owners denied, as time went on, he clearly made the Bank issue personal resulting in temporary abolishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Along with the bank itself, Jackson more specifically despised the paper currency distribution because it caused Americans to desire wealth without labor and increased the temptation to obtain money at any sacrifice. Jackson’s thorough hatred for paper currency and the monetary system of the United States during the time of his Presidency raises the question as to why he is on the most widely used denomination of paper money in America to this day, the twenty dollar bill. The Treasury and Federal Reserve ironically chose Andrew Jackson’s portrait to appear on the twenty-dollar bill to get revenge long after his death, but...
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...U.S. History and Constitution HIS120 Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) At the end of the course, students will be able to: SLO1. Describe the cultural, geographic and climatic influences on Native American societies. SLO2. Compare and contrast religious, social and cultural differences among the major European settlers. SLO3. Describe the events that helped create American nationalism and lead to the American Revolution. SLO4. Explain the Constitutional Convention, the Articles of Confederation, and the emergence of a democratic nation. SLO5. Explain the U.S. Constitution as it related to the separation of powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and the major principles of democracy. SLO6. Evaluate the Jeffersonian dream of expansion and its effect on Native Americans SLO7. Describe Jacksonian democracy and the creation of a two party system SLO8. Explain slavery and associated issues that led to the Civil War and its aftermath. Module Titles Module 1—Early American exploration and colonization (SLO1) Module 2—British colonies (SLO2) Module 3—Road to the Revolution and the American Revolution (SLO3) Module 4—Early Republic (SLO4 and SLO5) Module 5—Jacksonian America (SLO 6 and SLO7) Module 6—Road to the Civil War (SLO8) Module 7—Civil War (SLO8) Module 8—Shaping American history: Signature Assignment (all SLOs) Module 1 Early Exploration and Contact with Native Americans Welcome to HIS 120: U.S....
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...PS1010: Study Guide for Exam 3 Winter 2015 1. Which of the following thinkers is often credited with first coming up with ideas about the modern bureaucracy? a. Thomas Hobbes b. John Locke c. Max Weber d. Alexander Hamilton e. Benjamin Franklin 2. Bureaucracy is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT: a. Merit-based advancement b. Hierarchy c. Worker specialization d. Explicit rules e. Flexible goals 3. The value of explicit rules in bureaucratic institutions is that they: a. Facilitate individually tailored treatment of citizens b. Allow for flexibility c. Encourage creativity d. Create standardization and predictability e. Reduce uniformity of behavior 4. A clear chain of command with all employees knowing who their supervisors are as well as whom they are responsible for is an example of a(n): a. Issue network b. Merit system c. Hierarchy d. Spoils system e. Iron triangle 5. Bureaucracy is useful for all of the following EXCEPT tasks that: a. Require a great deal of coordination b. Require a great deal of planning c. Require a great deal of expertise d. Can be handled on an ad hoc basis e. Require a great deal of routine work 6. The practice in which successful party candidates reward political supporters with jobs or favors is known as: a. Patronage b. Pandering c. Pay-for-play d. Lobbying e. Nepotism 7. The civil service replaced the _________ as a method of choosing government workers. a. Merit system b. Hereditary...
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...* ------------------------------------------------- Lessons * ------------------------------------------------- Course Information * ------------------------------------------------- Assessments * ------------------------------------------------- Gradebook * ------------------------------------------------- Email * ------------------------------------------------- Discussion Groups * ------------------------------------------------- ChatRoom * ------------------------------------------------- Whiteboard * ------------------------------------------------- My Folders * ------------------------------------------------- Students * ------------------------------------------------- Technical Support * ------------------------------------------------- Announcements * ------------------------------------------------- Other Courses * ------------------------------------------------- Logoff * ------------------------------------------------- Web 2.0 Tools | | | Exam: 04.20 Midterm Exam52Score: 52 of 100 pointsInstructions: You are about to enter a TIMED EXAM! You have 50 minutes to complete this exam. One point will be deducted for each minute you go over the allotted time. Once you enter the exam, you cannot stop the clock.Answer Key------------------------------------------------- Top of FormQuestion 1 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following statements about states� ratification of the Constitution is best supported by the information in...
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...1a) Descriptions of governments can be based on: Economy - what provides the goods and services that are bought, sold, and used? Capitalism-(Russia)--In a capitalist or free-market economy, people own their own businesses and property and must buy services for private use, such as healthcare Socialism (Norway)-- Socialist governments own many of the larger industries and provide education, health and welfare services while allowing citizens some economic choices Communism (Cuba)-- In a communist country, the government owns all businesses and farms and provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare. Politics - how is the government run? Dictatorship (Iraq)-- Rule by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control. In a military dictatorship, the army is in control. Usually, there is little or no attention to public opinion or individual rights. Totalitarian (China)-- Rule by a single political party. People are forced to do what the government tells them and may also be prevented from leaving the country. Theocracy (Iran)-- A form of government where the rulers claim to be ruling on behalf of a set of religious ideas, or as direct agents of a deity. Monarchy (Jordan)-- A monarchy has a king or queen, who sometimes has absolute power. Power is passed along through the family Parliamentary (Israel)-- A parliamentary system is led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen as a member of a political party and remains in power...
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